• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Scope
• Section 3 - Definitions, Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Section 4 - English Language Proficiency for Admission
• Section 5 - Evidence of English Language Proficiency
• General Evidence Requirements
• Discipline Specific Requirements
• ELP based on Residency/Employment
• Section 6 - Time Limits
• Section 7 - Roles and Responsibilities related to ELP
• Global
• Faculties
• Courses and Academic Quality Committee
• Academic Board
• Section 8 - English Language Proficiency Requirement Bands
• Table 1 English Language Requirement Bands
• Table 2. Minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements by Course/Discipline.

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This Procedure sets out the level of English language proficiency (ELP) required for admission to ACU courses and the processes around meeting those requirements.

Section 2 - Scope

(2) This Procedure applies to all prospective and/or current students applying for entry into coursework and non-award programs delivered by ACU, at undergraduate and postgraduate level including inbound Study Abroad and Exchange students.

(3) This procedure does not apply to Higher Degree by Research students.

Section 3 - Definitions, Acronyms and Abbreviations

(4) Terms used in this procedure are consistent with ACU’s Glossary of Student and Course Terms. In the context of this procedure the following terms also apply:

(5) The following acronyms and abbreviations are used in this procedure:

Section 4 - English Language Proficiency for Admission

(6) ELP is a requirement for admission to all coursework and non-award studies at ACU.

(7) ELP requirements are approved by Academic Board at the point of course accreditation for admission to all coursework programs and take into consideration the level of English language skills needed to commence and successfully progress through a program, and the requirements of external accreditation bodies where applicable.

(8) Any change to ACU’s minimum ELP requirements must be approved by Academic Board and will normally apply from the next academic year.

Section 5 - Evidence of English Language Proficiency

(9) All ACU applicants must satisfy English language proficiency (ELP) requirements. Evidence requirements depend on the applicant’s circumstances, including whether they are from a recognised English-speaking background or have completed prior education taught and assessed in English. For most courses, ACU uses the list of countries and assessable qualifications published by UAC.

(10) ELP requirements are subject to change. Where such requirements are amended prior to course commencement, applicants may be required to meet the updated requirements.

(11) Where ELP evidence is submitted by an applicant on more than one occasion, the most recently submitted evidence will normally be accepted for assessment.

(12) All ELP evidence submitted by an applicant is subject to verification by ACU.

(13) The following online English language tests are not recognised or accepted at ACU:

1. IELTS Indicator / IELTS Online
2. TOEFL iBT Home Edition
3. PTE Academic Online

General Evidence Requirements

(14) Applicants may demonstrate ELP based on English completed as part of any senior secondary school studies deemed by ACU to be equivalent to Australian Year 12. Approved alternatives are outlined in the relevant state-based TAC English Proficiency Schedules.

(15) For all courses, ELP can also be evidenced by one of the following:

1. demonstrated completion of an approved English language test with a minimum accepted result as set out in Tables 1 and 2 of this procedure. Any such ELP test must normally have been completed no earlier than two years prior to the commencement of the course of study to which a prospective student seeks admission; or
2. demonstrated current registration with an accredited body that has an English language requirement equivalent to, or higher than, the standards required by the University. Recognised registrations include:
   1. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) registration other than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Health Practice registration;
   2. Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) Teacher registration;
   3. Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Teacher registration;
   4. NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Teacher registration; and
   5. ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) Teacher registration.

(16) Applicants may also be able to demonstrate ELP based on residency, full-time work and/or life experience in an English-speaking country as per the time limits set out in Section 6 of this procedure.

Discipline Specific Requirements

(17) For certain programs that lead to professional accreditation/registration there are mandated ELP requirements.

Initial Teacher Education (ITE)

(18) For Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses, ELP can be demonstrated through successful completion of at least two full-time years of study of a secondary or tertiary qualification at AQF Diploma level or higher, where the medium of study was English and the qualification was completed no more than two years prior to the commencement of the course of study to which a prospective student seeks admission.

Nursing and Midwifery courses

(19) For all undergraduate Nursing and all undergraduate Midwifery courses ELP can be demonstrated either by:

1. providing a written declaration that English is the primary language or;
2. evidence of achieving the minimum English language test results as specified in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language skills registration standards, or through one of the following pathway options:
   1. the “Primary Language Pathway” (as defined by NMBA) where a prospective student provides evidence of attendance and satisfactory completion of at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country, including at least two years between years 7 and 12; or
   2. the Test Pathway (as defined by NMBA) where results must be within 2 years of enrolling and meet the criteria outlined in Table 1 of this Procedure.

Other course requirements

(20) For programs other than those identified in clauses (17) to (19), a prospective student may demonstrate ELP through successful completion of:

1. at least one full-time year of study of an Australian secondary or tertiary qualification in the last five years; or
2. at least one full-time year in the last five years of an overseas qualification equivalent to an Australian secondary or tertiary qualification, where the medium of study was English as validated by ACU.

ELP based on Residency/Employment

(21) Applicants seeking to demonstrate ELP based on residency and employment in an English-speaking country must provide:

1. evidence of ongoing residency (such as passport or visa documentation);
2. a statement of service from an employer confirming the duration of employment and details of duties in an English language environment; and
3. any other evidence of sufficient ELP.

(22) Such evidence is subject to the time limits as detailed in Section 6 of this procedure.

(23) Applicants seeking to demonstrate ELP based on residency and employment and/or life experience in a non-English speaking country may be considered, however, must provide a statement from the employer or equivalent confirming that work has been conducted in an English-speaking environment.

Section 6 - Time Limits

(24) Evidence of ELP must be current when the applicant commences their studies at ACU. Time limitations apply to the age of the evidence used to demonstrate ELP:

1. Approved English language tests must normally be completed no more than two years prior to commencement at ACU; and
2. Other qualifications used to demonstrate ELP should normally be completed no more than five years prior to commencement at ACU.

(25) Time limits do not apply where an applicant seeks to demonstrate ELP on the basis of a combination of formal qualifications and work and/or life experience and who have provided evidence that:

1. the applicant is from a recognised English-speaking background, or that they completed at least the final four years of their secondary schooling in English or in a recognised English-speaking country; or
2. they have continuously resided or worked in a recognised English-speaking country between the completion of their studies and commencement at ACU.

Section 7 - Roles and Responsibilities related to ELP

Global

(26) Global are responsible for:

1. provision of marketing insights in relation to ELP;
2. concordance of ELP between approved acceptable tests for entry;
3. endorsement of ELP requirements for new programs; and
4. endorsement of amendments to the ELP requirements for existing programs.

Faculties

(27) Faculties are responsible for:

1. setting and communicating the ELP requirements for admission into the programs they administer;
2. monitoring of student performance in engaging with academic content of their programs in relation to ELP in accordance with the Student and Course Monitoring Policy.

Courses and Academic Quality Committee

(28) Courses and Academic Quality Committee is responsible for:

1. endorsement of ELP requirements for new programs; and
2. endorsement of amendments to ELP requirements for existing programs.

Academic Board

(29) Academic Board is responsible for:

1. approval of ELP requirements for new programs; and
2. approval of amendments to ELP requirements.

Section 8 - English Language Proficiency Requirement Bands

(30) ELP requirements will normally be set within English Language Requirement Bands as approved by Academic Board and as detailed in Table 1 of this procedure. Where ELP requirements for a course cannot be set within an existing English Language Requirement Band the requirement will be specified in the relevant entry requirement field of the Course Browser.

Table 1 English Language Requirement Bands

(31) *TOEFL iBT Australia is the test currently accepted by National Boards for registration purposes and is recommended for entry at ACU. For tests taken on or after 21 January 2026, only TOEFL iBT Australia results are accepted. TOEFL iBT scores reported on the 1–6 scale are not currently accepted.

Course Minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements

(32) The following table sets out the Bands that are required for entry for courses offered at ACU. Where the English proficiency requirements for the course does not fall under an existing band the specific requirements will be set out in the Course Browser.

Table 2. Minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements by Course/Discipline.